Tag Archives: west sac

Team effort at teen center

Walt James, his wife Judith James, and Sherri Leal of “Kids Against Hunger” show a few of the meal packages prepped by Rotary members and collaborators on Saturday. They’re wearing hair nets for food service safety. (News-Ledger photo)

FROM THE NEWS-LEDGER — MAY 2, 2012 —

By Steve MarschkeNews-Ledger Editor

The Collings West Sacramento Teen Center on Saturday turned into a bustling food-prepn center for several hours, as a coalition of groups and volunteers donned hair nets to assemble food packets for the hungry.

[adrotate group=”9″] The Centennial Rotary Club spearheaded the event, working with the “Kids Against Hunger” organization that feeds families worldwide.

The event marked Rotary’s annual international work day.

“The 28th of April was the workday throughout the world,” said local club president Walt James. “All clubs try to participate in some kind of project that day.”

Why the “Kids Against Hunger” program?

“I bumped into it when I was at the convention in New Orleans last year. They had all kinds of booths on projects going on over the world, and this one caught my interest,” said James.

Sherri Leal is a “satellite program director” for Kids Against Hunger, and she coordinated with Rotary for the event. Saturday’s crowd of volunteers displayed a remarkable work ethic as they measured and packaged the easy-to-digest dry rice combos.

ALAN WEGAT (above at right) is among those sealing each assembled bag of rice mix (News-Ledger photo)

“We had about 110 volunteers,” said James. “We had people from all over the community, including the CERTs (the fire department’s Community Emergency Response Team) and members of the (other local) Rotary Club. We had people from Our Lady of Grace School, people from Christian Brothers High School, and we had the Pocket Greenhaven Rotary Club. We had one girl come from Mira Loma High School. We had the downtown Westminster Presbyterian Church – they brought about 30 kids. From the Southport part of West Sacramento was the Lighthouse Covenant Church. Plus some teens that frequent the teen center.”

What goes into the meals?

“What you have is rice, dehydrated vegetables, soy protein and minerals,” said James. “It’s a meal that’s balanced out for a malnourished kid, but anybody can eat it. There’s no meat, pork or fish – it’s all vegan.”

Rice is donated or bought by local contributors, and Kids Against Hunger brings the other ingredients.

When the recipient adds water and cooks the mix, the result tastes something like Rice-A-Roni – as many of those who tried the samples offered at the front of the teen center found out.

Six servings go into every bag – and the work party in West Sacramento assembled about 5,000 bags, or 30,000 meals.

Those bags will join other bags filled by other volunteer groups, filling up a 20-foot shipping container for eventual transport by the U.S. Navy to a destination in need.

[adrotate group=”10″] “Sheri has been shipping a lot to Haiti,” said James. “She has shipped to Somalia and the Philippines. She does not ship until they fill a container. You have to get the free shipping to make this work. The Navy is instrumental in putting these cargo containers (which hold about 585,000 meals) onto their ships and getting them where they go.”

Yes, you can support local journalism, support this website, and see all the News-Ledger’s articles every week! Subscribe to the News-Ledge newspaper. It’s only $20 per year within West Sacramento – once a week, delivered to your mailbox.

You can even try it for free for two months if you live in West Sacramento. Just send your name and mailing address to FreeTrial@news-ledger.com (offer open to new subscribers in West Sacramento ZIP codes 95691 & 95605).

Copyright News-Ledger 2012

Yet another title for River City tennis

NEWS-LEDGER — MAY 2, 2012 —

From River City High School

A doubleheader sweep of visiting El Dorado and a win at Union Mine wrapped up the Sierra Valley Conference (SVC) championship for the River City tennis team last week. It’s the team’s 16th league title in the past 17 years and the 18th overall in Raider tennis history.

[adrotate group=”7″] River City blanked El Dorado 9-0 in the first match of the doubleheader and then polished off the Cougars with an 8-1 win. Jai London won both of her #1 girls singles matches and Michael Lee earned a pair of victories at #2 boys singles. At the top boys singles position, Terry Vang and Edward Xu each won once, while Cindy Oseguera and Sarah Yang did likewise at #2 girls singles. In boys doubles, Vang teamed with Zoi Saetern for a win at #1, Matthew Tagupa and Amran Khan won the opener at #2, and Muradan Chhay paired with Ben Gerelkhuu to take the #2 nightcap. In the girls doubles matches, Mary Neverov won twice at #1, once with Sarah Yang and once with Lily He, and Avneet Singh and Lina Vang took the first #2 contest while Mariana Contreras and Katie Bowman took the second. Christine Maltez won a pair of mixed doubles matches, one with Phillip Dinh and one with Saetern.

At Union Mine, the Raiders were victorious 7-2, capping off a perfect 12 win, no loss SVC slate, and finishing the regular season 19 and 1 overall. London and Oseguera earned straight-set wins in girls singles, as did Lee at #2 boys. Xu and Saetern (#1 boys), Khan and Tagupa (#2 boys), Neverov and Yang (#1 girls), and Singh and Lina Vang (#2 girls) earned doubles wins for the visitors.

At week’s end, the focus shifted to the SVC singles and doubles tournament and there were all-Raider finals in both girls and mixed doubles. Top-seeded Yang and Oseguera defeated the third-seeded Maltez and Neverov in the tourney’s championship, 6-4,6-2, while the the sibling duo of Lina and Terry Vang outlasted teammates Singh and Lee to take the mixed crown, 3-6,6-2,6-2. All eight players now advance to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III tournament later this week at Stockton’s Oak Park.

[adrotate group=”9″] As a team, RC has a first round bye in the Section team playoffs and will play the winner of Denair vs. Marysville in the round of 16. A Raider victory will mean another home contest at 4pm on Monday, May 7th in the quarterfinal round.

Yes, you can support local journalism, support this website, and see all the News-Ledger’s articles every week! Subscribe to the News-Ledge newspaper. It’s only $20 per year within West Sacramento – once a week, delivered to your mailbox.

You can even try it for free for two months if you live in West Sacramento. Just send your name and mailing address to FreeTrial@news-ledger.com (offer open to new subscribers in West Sacramento ZIP codes 95691 & 95605).

Copyright News-Ledger 2012

Last home game for RC soccer

River City freshman Venesa Lara scores on a penalty kick shot. She scored both points for her j.v. squad (photo by Memories for Generations by De’Onna Jack)

[adrotate group=”10″] FROM THE NEWS-LEDGER — MAY 2, 2012 —

The River City High School girls played their last home soccer game of the season on April 26 against Liberty Ranch. The RC varsity lost 2-0 and the j.v. team won 2-0.

Freshman Julie Staffler seen in action for River City varsity (photo from Memories for Generations by De'Onna Jack)

Yes, you can support local journalism, support this website, and see all the News-Ledger’s articles every week! Subscribe to the News-Ledge newspaper. It’s only $20 per year within West Sacramento – once a week, delivered to your mailbox.

You can even try it for free for two months if you live in West Sacramento. Just send your name and mailing address to FreeTrial@news-ledger.com (offer open to new subscribers in West Sacramento ZIP codes 95691 & 95605).

Copyright News-Ledger 2012

Beware of fake text message offers

FROM THE NEWS-LEDGER — MAY 2, 2012 –

The office of Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig says it has received complaints about some text message scams making the rounds.

One in particular starts with “Dear Walmart Shopper,” and promises a $1,000 gift card. Another says “Apple is looking for people to Test & Keep the New iPad 3!” Both ask you to click on a link or go to a website.

[adrotate group=”7″] They amount to a trick trying to get personal information from victims.

“We strongly encourage you to delete the text message,” said a D.A.’s office representative.

Copyright News-Ledger 2012

Brothers finish Eagle Scout projects

JOEL and DARREN KERSEY, West Sacramento boys who have completed the culminating event in earning ‘Eagle Scout’ status

[adrotate group=”9″] NEWS-LEDGER — APRIL 25, 2012 —

Two West Sacramento brothers completed their Eagle Scout community service projects this month. Joel and Darren Kersey each assembled a group of volunteers and planned and directed a work project at a park in Sacramento.

Joel is a sophomore at River City High School, and Darren is a student at Southport Elementary. Both are “Life Scouts” and members of Boy Scout Troop 43 of the Golden Empire Council in West Sacramento.

Joel organized and supervised volunteers in repairing and rehabbing several tables in the park.

Darren planned and directed the pouring of a new concrete pad, construction of a masonry hot ash box, and installation of a new grill at the park.

[adrotate group=”7″] Besides the volunteers, the projects received support from a number of sponsors who provided materials.

The projects are a requirement for the boys to earn the rank of Eagle Scout – highest rank of the Boy Scouts of America.

Yes, you can support local journalism, support this website, and see all the News-Ledger’s articles every week! Subscribe to the News-Ledge newspaper. It’s only $20 per year within West Sacramento – once a week, delivered to your mailbox.

You can even try it for free for two months if you live in West Sacramento. Just send your name and mailing address to FreeTrial@news-ledger.com (offer open to new subscribers in West Sacramento ZIP codes 95691 & 95605).

Copyright News-Ledger 2012

EDITORIAL: crime drama lessons & more

NEWS-LEDGER EDITORIAL, published April 25, 2012

Friday’s (April 20) crime drama caught the region’s attention. Apparently, a lone gunman shot at West Sacramento citizens and police, rammed a patrol car, caused at least one other car crash. He carjacked several vehicles, beat up a birdwatcher, and eventually was cornered in a Sacramento apartment, where he refused to surrender.

Finally, the suspect was shot and killed by deputies.

Amid all that action, there were certainly a lot of chances for other people to get killed or badly hurt, but none were. It sure could have been a lot worse.

[adrotate group=”7″] Meanwhile, it will be interesting to watch the actions of law enforcement be dissected and analyzed – the length of time they kept I-80 closed for public safety, the final decision to shoot, and so forth. There will be lessons to learn for next time.
______________________________
When the River City High School football team had a breakout season a couple of years ago, winning nearly every regular-season game and making it to the playoffs for the first time in what seemed like forever, West Sacramento got excited.

The community paid attention to the winning season, and the city council even presented the team with a proclamation.

This year, the school’s girls’ basketball team had its own breakout season, going 27-4 overall after a near-perfect regular season. They earned their first trip to the playoffs ever.

They deserve a city council plaque, don’t you think?
______________________________
[adrotate group=”10″] No more capital “I” in internet.

As one more tiny sign of a new era, the News-Ledger is going to try to make a slight change in the spelling of the word “internet” – no longer capitalizing the word like just about everybody did when the darn thing was invented.

And if it seems odd to you that the word ever was capitalized in regular use, just consider that this is a common thing with big new technologies. When that exciting and groundbreaking technology called “Radio” was invented, it also originally came with a capital “R.” Only after people got used to the idea did the “R” shrink.

So spelling the word as “internet” is pretty much an admission it’s been around a while and we’re used to it.

TO COMMENT on this editorial, please visit the same editorial at our sister site at WestSac.com by clicking here.

Yes, you can support local journalism, support this website, and see all the News-Ledger’s articles every week! Subscribe to the News-Ledge newspaper. It’s only $20 per year within West Sacramento – once a week, delivered to your mailbox.

You can even try it for free for two months if you live in West Sacramento. Just send your name and mailing address to FreeTrial@news-ledger.com (offer open to new subscribers in West Sacramento ZIP codes 95691 & 95605).

Copyright News-Ledger 2012

A ship in the fields of Southport

‘SHIP IN THE FIELDS’: The 500-foot Golden Bear, training ship for the California Maritime Academy, cut through a West Sacramento canal on Sunday on its way to make a call at the Port of West Sacramento (From the May 2 News-Ledger/photo by PETER FOLKS)

[adrotate group=”7″] Yes, you can support local journalism, support this website, and see all the News-Ledger’s articles every week! Subscribe to the News-Ledge newspaper. It’s only $20 per year within West Sacramento – once a week, delivered to your mailbox.

You can even try it for free for two months if you live in West Sacramento. Just send your name and mailing address to FreeTrial@news-ledger.com (offer open to new subscribers in West Sacramento ZIP codes 95691 & 95605).